Imagine strolling through your favorite neighborhood only to find it overflowing with strangers, your local café replaced by yet another tourist shop, and your rent skyrocketing because someone can make more money housing visitors for three days than renting to you for a month. This nightmare has become reality across Europe, where locals in beloved destinations are pushing back against what they call the death of their communities. From water gun protests in Barcelona to hunger strikes in Tenerife, residents are making it clear that their cities have crossed a dangerous line.
Barcelona: Where Water Guns Became Weapons of Resistance
In July 2024, Barcelona became the global symbol of anti-tourism sentiment when masked protestors took to the streets armed with water pistols, dousing unsuspecting tourists while chanting “Your holidays, my misery” and “Mass tourism kills the city.” One demonstrator captured the essence of local frustration perfectly: “I can’t afford to live in my own city.” The city of 1.7 million residents drew approximately 12 million tourists in 2023, with visitor numbers having changed dramatically over the past 10 to 15 years. In response to mounting pressure, Barcelona’s government announced a ban on all short-term rental licenses by 2028, along with curbs on cruise docks and increased tourist taxes.
Venice: The Floating City Drowning in Tourists
Venice serves as the poster child for overtourism, with its population dropping from about 175,000 in the 1970s to just under 50,000 today while hosting millions of daily visitors. Residents are leaving at a rate of 1,200 per year, unable to cope with skyrocketing rents and tourist crowds. The city now charges visitors a €5–€10 entry fee just to enter during peak days, desperately trying to protect its soul from being swallowed by cruise ships and selfie sticks. Protesters have vocally rejected comparisons of Venice to amusement parks, emphasizing that the city is a living community, not a theme park.
Mallorca: Paradise Under Siege
Mallorca, once cheerfully known as a sun-soaked haven of rich history and Mediterranean charm, is experiencing a housing crisis that prompted over 10,000 people to protest against short-term rentals and overtourism. The breaking point came when residents were pushed to their limits, with a grassroots group called Mallorca Platja Tour staging demonstrations that filled popular coves with protesters, blocking tourist access and demanding change. Marine biologists warned that the surge in foot traffic was devastating delicate ecosystems, with sand dunes eroding, native plants trampled, and marine life disturbed. The city responded by capping cruise ship arrivals at three per day, banning short-term rental apartments in city-center residential buildings, and setting a cap of 12,000 hotel beds.
Rome: When Ancient Majesty Meets Modern Madness
Tourism expert warnings suggest that Rome, along with Florence and Naples, is already “suffocated by tourism” almost to the point of no return. The eternal city, along with Venice, Florence, and Verona, attracts millions annually, pushing public services to their limit, with more tourists visiting Italy in 2024 than the country has citizens. Rome’s Colosseum, the country’s most-visited attraction, capped visitor numbers to 3,000 at any one time in 2019, while the nearby ruins of Pompeii introduced a daily visitor cap of 20,000 following record-breaking crowds of 36,000 people per day.
Amsterdam: Fighting the Playground Reputation
Amsterdam isn’t just fighting overcrowding – it’s battling its reputation as a playground for wild tourists, with plans to completely ban cruise ships from docking by 2035. The city welcomed over 20 million visitors in 2023 and reacted strongly by banning cruise ships from the inner city, halting new hotel approvals in core zones, and cutting river cruise traffic by 271,000 visits annually. Daily life has been affected by overcrowded public transport, rising rents, and noise pollution in residential neighborhoods, leading to the enactment of a new tourist tax in 2024 aimed at funding infrastructure improvements and cleanliness initiatives.
Santorini: Instagram Paradise Lost
Santorini, the jewel of the Cyclades, attracted over 2 million visitors in 2024, with residents staging protests to “send cruise ships home” while the Greek government introduced €20-per-cruise-passenger fees and docking limits. Reports indicate that up to 18,000 cruise passengers overwhelm the island daily, straining resources for its 15,000 residents. The Greek government has introduced initiatives to promote sustainable tourism, encouraging visitors to explore less crowded villages and beaches, while local business owners desire tourists who value Santorini beyond its social media appeal.
Dubrovnik: Game of Thrones, Real Life Consequences
The Croatian city of Dubrovnik became one of the top destinations primarily due to its pivotal role as a filming location for Game of Thrones, now seeing a staggering 27 tourists for every local inhabitant. In response to overwhelming crowds, locals now face capped cruise docks and bag-screening slots in the Old Town. The city made headlines for limiting cruise ship arrivals after UNESCO threatened to revoke its World Heritage status due to overtourism. Only 30 percent of Dubrovnik’s Old Town is now occupied by locals, with officials working to reclaim land for residents.
Florence: Renaissance Art Meets Modern Crowds
Florence reportedly saw a reduction in peak overcrowding periods in 2024 in peak overcrowding periods. Florence is straining to preserve its art and heritage while battling the effects of mass tourism. Similar protests to those seen in other major European cities have occurred in Florence, with locals expressing concerns about the preservation of their cultural heritage. However, the city continues to struggle with the balance between welcoming visitors to experience Renaissance masterpieces and maintaining livability for residents.
Lisbon: Portugal’s Capital Under Pressure
Lisbon is on the verge of a referendum to restrict the rental of residential apartments to tourists, following the submission of a petition with 11,000 signatures to the city council. Activist Raquel Antunes highlighted that in some neighborhoods, more than half of the properties are used for short-term tourist rentals, arguing that the city must prioritize housing for residents to address the escalating housing shortage. The city experienced a decrease in hotel occupancy nights between 2023 and 2024, but housing affordability remains a critical issue. Locals struggle with inadequate infrastructure, overcrowded streets, pollution, and prohibitive property prices.
Edinburgh: Scotland’s Capital Choking on Success
Edinburgh led European cities in 2024 with 61% of days in the hotel compression zone, indicating severe overcrowding conditions. The local council declared a housing emergency in 2023, partly driven by an increase in short-term holiday lets, while residents complain that “useful shops” on the popular Royal Mile have been replaced with touristy gift shops. In response to mounting complaints, a tourist tax designed to fund infrastructure improvements was introduced in July 2024. Though specific protest statistics are limited, the city’s compression data reveals the strain residents face daily.